Joe Root’s record-breaking century gives England the edge over Sri Lanka on Day 3 of the Lord’s Test

On Day 3, Joe Root delivered a batting masterclass at Lord’s for England, scoring his second century of the Test and the 34th of his illustrious career. Root’s exceptional knock of 103 followed his first-innings score of 143, making him the highest century-maker in England‘s Test history, surpassing Alastair Cook‘s 33 Test hundreds. In the process, Root also became the leading Test run-scorer at Lord’s and edged closer to breaking Cook’s overall run-scoring record for England. His innings was the cornerstone of England’s strategy, as they set Sri Lanka a daunting target of 483 runs to win.

Joe Root’s record-breaking century leads England to dominance

Root’s composure was evident as he navigated the morning session with minimal trouble. His fifty came up from 65 balls, highlighted by a well-timed punch down the ground off Prabath Jayasuriya. After the interval, Root shifted gears, attacking the spinner with three boundaries in quick succession. Despite Sri Lanka’s efforts to chip away at the English batting lineup, Root remained steadfast. He was eventually the last man out, top-edging a tired heave off Lahiru Kumara to deep backward square leg. Root’s brisk half-century partnership with Harry Brook was the centerpiece of the morning session, laying a solid foundation for England’s dominance.

3️⃣4️⃣th Test Hundred for Joe Root 🔥🔥

– Back to back hundreds at Lord's 🤩#cricket #ENGvSL #JoeRoot #englandcricket #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/cA2jenpmlS

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) August 31, 2024

Morning session and key partnerships

England’s innings resumed on 25 for 1 after Dan Lawrence‘s dismissal late on day two. Early on, they lost wickets but managed to stabilize thanks to a brisk partnership between Root and Brook. Brook’s aggressive 37 from 36 balls included a significant missed chance when Nishan Madushka dropped him on 9. Brook’s innings featured a powerful slog-sweep off Jayasuriya that cleared the Tavern Stand, though he was eventually dismissed by the spinner. England’s batting effort saw several key players dismissed under pressure. Ollie Pope, England’s stand-in captain, made 17 before falling to an uppercut shot off Asitha Fernando. Ben Duckett was the first to go in the innings, dismissed in a somewhat fortuitous manner as Angelo Mathews caught a rebound off a drop.

Also READ: ENG vs SL: Fans roar as Joe Root breaks Alastair Cook’s record with 34th century on Day 3 of Lord’s Test

Impact of Root’s knock

Root’s performance was complemented by a brisk half-century partnership with Brook. Despite the wickets falling around him, Root’s calm and controlled approach allowed England to build their total effectively. His innings was marked by a variety of strokes, including a flurry of boundaries that accelerated the scoring rate. Root’s ability to adapt and push the tempo made a significant impact, as he brought up his century off just 111 balls, marking it as his fastest Test century.

As England neared their declaration, Root was joined by Olly Stone. The pair added valuable runs before Stone was caught at fine leg. Root’s final dismissal came when he top-edged a heave off Kumara, leading to his departure with the tea interval approaching. England’s innings, while marked by Root’s brilliance, also included contributions from other batters, though they were often dismissed under pressure.

Sri Lanka struggles in pursuit of a massive target

Faced with the monumental task of chasing 483 runs, Sri Lanka’s second innings got off to a rocky start. Nishan Madushka was the first to fall, caught by Root off Gus Atkinson after scoring 13 runs from 25 deliveries. Dimuth Karunaratne, the captain, showed resilience with an unbeaten 23 off 48 balls, but Sri Lanka struggled to build partnerships. Pathum Nissanka also fell to Root, caught off  Stone’s bowling after scoring 14 runs from 24 balls.

At stumps, due to bad light, Sri Lanka ended the day at 53/2 after 20 overs, with Jayasuriya unbeaten on 3 runs from 23 balls alongside Karunaratne. With 430 runs still needed to win, Sri Lanka has a steep climb ahead. In the bowling department, Atkinson and Stone were the standout performers, each claiming a wicket. Atkinson conceded 15 runs in his 4 overs, while Stone gave away just 1 run in his solitary over.

Another momentous day 👏

Match Centre: https://t.co/Zj8083TszX#ENGvSL | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/eqHT4w4oDS

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 31, 2024

Also WATCH: England captain Ollie Pope hits a bulls eye to dismiss Lahiru Kumara on Day 2 of the 2nd Test